FACTBOX-EU turns up heat on bailed out banks: Scandinavia
Oct 16 (Reuters) - Neelie Kroes, the European Competition Commissioner whose term in office finishes at year-end, holds the fate of some of Europe's largest state-aided banks in the palm of her hand.
Here is a list of the top banks in Sweden, Denmark and Latvia that still await her verdict, detailing the aid they received, the measures they have taken to date and the possible payback demanded to compensate for state aid.
JSC PAREX BANKA (LATVIA):
Type of help: Latvia's second largest bank in terms of assets received state guarantees, a recapitalisation and liquidity support from the government. The state took a majority stake at the end of 2008. The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) took 25 percent of that stake in September and extended a 22 million euro subordinated loan.
Status: Latvia submitted a restructuring plan in May that included a new business strategy. Full probe underway.
Possible sanctions: Latvian Prime Minister Valdis Dombrovskis said in September he had met Kroes and was confident she would clear the state-backed rescue of Parex by year-end.
CARNEGIE (SWEDEN)
Type of help: The Swedish bank received a 2.4 billion Swedish crown ($347.3 million) loan from the central bank in October 2008.
The liquidity support was later replaced by an equivalent sized emergency loan from the National Debt Office, which subsequently took over all of Carnegie's shares as collateral. The Commission approved the aid as a temporary measure while awaiting a restructuring plan.
Status: The Swedish government sold Carnegie to Swedish
private equity company Altor and investment company Bure
(BURE.ST). However, some former shareholders remain in legal
dispute over Carnegie's valuation when it was nationalised.
Possible sanctions: None expected. Commission approval of sale expected imminently.
FIONIA BANK (DENMARK)
Type of help: The Danish bank received a 685 million euro credit facility from the Danish government and a 134 million euro capital injection.
Status: Commission approved aid in May.
($1=.6259 Pound)
($1=.6710 Euro)
($1=6.911 Swedish Crown)
(Compiled by Kirstin Ridley and Steve Slater in London, Ed Taylor in Frankfurt, Boris Groendahl in Vienna, Gilbert Kreijger in Amsterdam, Phil Blenkinsop in Brussels, Andras Gergely in Dublin, Sven Nordenstam in Stockholm, Julien Ponthus in Paris; editing by Simon Jessop)
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